Plasticized plastic compositions

ABSTRACT

Cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, cellulose ethers, polyvinyl compounds such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and polystyrene, chlorinated rubber, alkyd resins, polyesters such as a polycarbonate containing recurring units of the formula:- &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/1&gt; polymers of acrylic acid and functional derivatives thereof, polyethylene, and polypropylene are plasticized in the presence or absence of organic solvents with pentaerythritol derivatives of the formula:- &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/2&gt; in which X and Y each represent a -CH2-O-C2H4.CN radical or together represent a radical of the general formula:- &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/3&gt; in which R1, R2 and R3 may represent independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl groups, and specified substituents in the alkyl and aryl groups are amino, substituted amino, halogens, nitro, carbethoxy and cyano.  The resulting plasticized compositions may be used in the production of films, foils, lacquers, protective coatings, and other shaped articles.  The above plasticizers may also be used in conjunction with other plasticizers, viz. esters of phosphoric acid (e.g. tricresol phosphate), phthalic acid, adipic acid and sebacic acid.  Examples illustrate the incorporation of these plasticizers in solutions of cellulose acetate in a solvent mixture of isopropanol and methylene chloride.ALSO:The invention comprises compounds of the formula:-  &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/1&gt; in which X and Y each represent a -CH2-O-C2H4.CN radical or together represent a radical of the general formula:- &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/2&gt; in which R1, R2 and R3 may represent independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl groups, and specified substituents in the alkyl and aryl groups are amino, substituted amino, halogens, nitro, carbethoxy and cyano.  The compound in which X and Y each represent a -CH2-O-C2H4.CN is prepared by reacting an aqueous or organic solution of pentaerythritol with at least 4 moles of acrylonitrile in the presence of a compound having an alkaline reaction.  The compounds having a dioxane structure are prepared by reacting pentaerythritol with two moles of acrylonitrile and further reacting the resulting dicyanethyl ether of pentaerythritol with an appropriate aldehyde or ketone. Alternatively, pentaerythritol may be reacted with an equimolar amount of an appropriate aldehyde or ketone and the resulting intermediates of the formulae:- &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/3&gt; and &lt;FORM:0926689/IV(a)/4&gt; further reacted with two moles of acrylonitrile.  The products are used as plasticizers for organic polymer compositions.  Specification 629,691 is referred to.

United States Patent 9 Claims. 61. 106-176) The invention relates to a process for the production of plastic compositions, using plasticizing agents.

Numerous compounds are known which are suitable as plasticizing agents for synthetic resins of which phosphoric acid esters in particular have become of industrial importance. Furthermore, cyauethyl ethers of glycol and glycen'ne have also been used as plasticizers tor cellulose acetate. However, the range of their application is very limited since they still have a marked volatility and a certain solubility in water.

It has now been found that these disadvantages are avoided by using cyanethyl ethers of pentaerythritol as plasticizing agent. As compared with the known plasticizers, these compounds are distinguished by their far lower volalility and by their insolubility in water. As a result, the highly polymeric substances to which the cyanethyl ethers of pentaerythr-itol are added are more resistant to the eifect of heat and moisture. Especially suitable are those derivatives of pentaerythritol in which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are converted into cyanethyl ether radicals. The two remaining hydroxyl group can likewise be converted into cyanethyl ether radicals or they can on the other hand be etherified or esterified. Compounds which correspond to the Formulae I and II are especially suitable and can be prepared in a particularly simple manner.

In these Formulae, R R and R represent hydrocarbon radicals of an aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic nature, for example alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, turyl, in which the hydrogen atoms are in turn replaced by amino groups, halogens, nitro groups or nitrile groups,

The compound of the formula C (CH O CH CH CN) 4 has particularly good properties.

These compounds can be prepared in various ways. If acrylonitrile is reacted with pentaerythritol in aqueous or organic solvents and in the presence of agents with an alkaline reaction the tetracyanethyl ether of pentaerythritol is obtained when at least 4 molecule of acrylonitrile enter into reaction with one molecule of pentaerythn'tol. If only two molecules of acrylonitrile enter into reaction then the dicyanethyl ether of pentaerythritol is obtained, which can then be further reacted with aldehydes or ke tones to produce the cyclic ketals or metals of Formulae I and II.

On the other hand, by reacting pentaerythritol with aldehydes or ketones, it is also possible to prepare the acetals or ketals of Formulae III and 1V, respectively, and then the two residual hydroxyl groups can be converted by reaction with acrylonitrile into the cyanethyl ethers of Formulae I and II.

The preparation of a number of such plasticizers is described in the following examples.

The compounds are distinguished by their good compatibility with many compounds of high molecular weight.

Owing to their very high vaporizing temperature and their excellent heat resistance, they are especially suitable :as plasticizers for thermoplastic high polymers, into which .they can be introduced without using solvents, simply by mixing at the processing temperature of the thermoplasts.

On account of their excellent solubility in numerous organic solvents, they can be used Very satisfactorily in the production of films, toils, lacquers and protective coatings and also other shaped plastic compositions which are cast or applied from organic solutions of organic com pounds of high molecular weight such as cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, polyvinyl compounds, for example, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polycarbonates of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanebbisphenol A polycarbonates), chlorinated'rubber, alkyd resins, polyesters, polymers of acrylic acid and derivatives thereof, polyethylene, polypropylene and other polymers and c0- polymers.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 2-trichZoromethyl-5,5-di(cyanethoxymethyD-m-dioxane 5 Cl C-CH C 52.4 g. (0.2 mol) of monochloral pentaerythritol (British patent specification 629,691) and 2 g. of sodium methylate are dissolved in 250 cc. of anhydrous dioxane and 26.5 (0.5 mol) of acrylonitrile are added dropwise, the temperature of the reaction mixture being kept at 30 C. by cooling with water. After all the acrylonitrile has been added, the mixture is heated for 2 hours to 60 C. The mixture is thereafter cooled and the product of the reaction is precipitated by pouring into 1 liter of iced Water. After recrystallization from methanol, white crystals are obtained with the melting point of C. Yield: 54 g. (73 percent of the theoretical).

Analysis.Calculated: C, 42; H, 4.6; N, 7.6; Cl, 28.4 percent. Found: C, 41.9; H, 4.6; N, 7.6; Cl, 28.5 percent.

PRODUCTION OF THE FILM 5 to 20 g. of the aforementioned plasticizer are added to a solution of 50 g. of cellulose-acetate and 6 g. of isopropanol in 350 g. of methylene chloride. This casting solution is heated for 5 minutes to C. and then cooled in a closed vessel. The deaerated solution is poured on to a glass plate so that a dry film with a thickness of about 80a is formed. The film is stripped from the support after about 30 minutes and dried in a drying chamber for 2'hours at a temperature of 80 C.

EXAMPLE Preparation of Z-phenyl-Sfi-di-(cymzethoxymethyl)- v m-dioxane '0-'-om CE2QCHZOEZCN 159 g. (3 mols) of acrylonitrile are slowly incorporated by stirring into a suspension of 224 g. (1 mol) of monobenzal pentaerythritol (Organ. Synth. 38, edition 1958, page 65), 5 g. of sodium hydroxide and 750 g. of water at 25 C. After completing the addition of the acrylonitrile the mixture is heated for 5 hours to 50 C. The reaction product then separates out as an oil. 'It is neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, separated from the aqueous phase and freed from volatile constituents by heating in vacuo. Yield: 235 g. (71 percent of the theoretical).

Analysis.Calculated: N, 8.48 percent. 8.50 percent.

PRODUCTION OF THE FILM 5 to 20 g. of the mixture of the aiorementioned plasticizer and tricresole phosphate in proportion by weight of 1:2 are added to a solution of 50 g. of cellulose acetate and 6 g. of isopropanol in 350 g. of methylene chloride. This casting solution is heated for 5 minutes to 90 C. and then cooled in a closed vessel. The deaerated solution is poured on to a glass plate so that a dry film with a thickness of about 80p. is formed. The film is stripped from the support after about 30 minutes and dried in a drying chamber for 2 hours at a temperature of 80 C.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 2-m ethfl-Z-carbethoxymethyl-5 ,5-di- (cyancth oxy -m ethyl) '-m-di0xane H30 OCH2 CH2OCHg CH -CN Pound: N,

24.8 g. (0.1 mol) of monoacetoacetic acid ethyl ester pentaerythritol (Ber. 643, page 787 (1928)) and 1 g. of

sodium methylate are dissolved in 200 cc. of anhydrous dioxane and reacted at 25 C. with 15.9 g. (0.3 mol) of acrylonitrile. After 5 hours, the reaction mixture is poured into 500 cc. of iced water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid and separated from the aqueous phase. H

The oil which is obtained is heated in vacuo to 200 C. for removing all volatile constituents. Yield: 28 g. (79 percent of the theoretical).

The substance is used as in Example 1.

v 7 EXAMPLE 4 Preparation 0] 2-(l-dimethylaminophnyl)-5,5-di-(cyanetitoxy) -methy l-m-dioxrme 26.7 g. (0.1 mol) of p-dimethylaminobenzal pent-aerythritol (Journal Chem. Soc. [London], 1926, page 3240) anhydrous dioxane and 15.9 g. (0.3 mol) of acrylonitrile are added in portion at room temperature. After a reaction period of 5 hours, about 150 ml. of dioxane are distilled oii in vacuo and the residue is taken up in 200 ml. of ether. The ethereal solution is extracted by shaking three times with water, using 200 ml. thereof on each occasion, dried with anhydrous Na S0 and concentrated by evaporation. In order to remove the residual volatile constituents, the oil which is obtained is heated and 1 g. of sodium methylate are dissolved in 200 ml. of V in vacuo to 150 C. Yield; 29 g. (78 percentof the theoretical) The substance is used as in Example l.

'4 EXAMPLE 5 Preparation ofpentaeryth ritol tetracyanethyl ether NC-OHf-CHf-O-CH cm-o-onz-on -oN it is extracted by twice shaking with successive 300 ml.

portions of water. 'At'ter drying in a vacuum drying chamber, a crystalline product is obtained which has the melting point 2830 C. Yield: 645.5 g. (93 percent of the theoretical).

Analysis.,Calculated: C, 58.6; H, 6.9; N,'l6.l percent. Found: C, 58.5; H, 7.0; N, 15.9 percent.

The substance is used as in Example 1.

' EXAMPLE 6 30 parts by weight of the plasticizer of Example 1 are worked into parts of polyvinyl chloride by means of mixing rollers heated to 160 C. The homogeneous mixture is stripped off and used for the production of moulded articles.

EXAMPLE 7 A solution of 40 g. of polycarbonate of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyhpropane(bisphenol A) in 300 g. of methylene chloride are mixed with 10 g. of the plasticizer of Example 5 dissolved in 50 g. of methylene chloride. The casting solution is freed from air'bubbles by heating and is then cooled and cast on to the support and stripped oil after drying. A crystal clear polycarbonate film is formed.

EXAMPLE s 10 g. of the plasticizer of Example 2 are added to a solution of 50 g. of polystyrene in 350 g. of methylene chloride. This casting solution is heated for some minutes to 90 C. and then cooled. The deaerated solution is poured on to a glass plate so that a dry film is formed. The film is stripped off after about 30 minutes and dried in a drying chamber for 2 hours at a temperature of C.

It will be clear to those skilled in this art that the practice of the invention lends itself readily to a number of useful modifications in method, apparatus, materials etc. For example, the synthetics used are not limited to the previously mentioned because it may comprise any suitable compositions of'thermoplastic resins. The invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific methods of applying the plasticizers as described in the invention. Furthermore, the plasticizer may be used in combination with other plasticizers according to the invention or with plasticizers known per so such as esters of phosphoric acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid or sebacic acid.

What we claim is:

1. A. plastic composition consisting essentially of a substance of the group consisting of cellulose esters, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates of bis(hydroxyphenyl) alkanes, and polystyrenes, which contains an amount that is sulficient to plasticize the said substance of a compound having the formula CN-CHgCHzOCHg OHr-O R1 V 0N-Om0m00h \CHT-O/- R in which R is a radical of the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, and 7 I R is a radical of the group consisting of lower alkyl, 8 A V plastic composition as defined in claim 1 1n WhlCh halogen-substituted lower alkyl, caiboxy-substituted the Plasticizing compound has the formula lower alkyl, lower alkoxycarbony -subst1tuted lower alkyl, phenyl and amino-substituted phenyl radicals. 2. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which o the substance that is plasticized is cellulose acetate. 1 CEEMFCOAJQ 3. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which the substance that is plasticized is polyvinyl chloride.

4. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in 9. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which the plasticizing compound has the formula which the substance that is plasticized is a polycarbonate 10 E OH OCH2 CH ON of bisphenol A. N-QCE o\ 5. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which the substance that is plasticized is polystyrene. 0 O GEM-CH2 CN 6. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which References Cited in the file of this patent 'the plasticizing compound has the formula UNITED STATES PATENTS 0-011, om-o-om-onroN 1,703,697 Trickey Feb. 26, 1929 ChC CH O 1,735,157 Carroll Nov. 12, 1929 .0 1,770,153 Davidson July 8, 1930 a 0-0111 OEPO-CHPOHPCN 2,401,607 Bruson June 4, 1946 7. A plastic composition as defined in claim 1 in which r 2,437,905 Bruson Mar. 16, 1948 i the plasticizing compound has the formula 2,606,907 Blicke Aug. 12, 1952 (4 CHFO CH2 CH? CN Jones at 3.1. s61. 2, 2,956,975 Greenspan Oct. 18, 1960 3 2,980,698 Heckert et al. Apr. 18, 1961 0-03, on,- o-om-omoN 2,996,517 Leech et al. Aug. 15, 1961 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,169,879 February 16, 1965 Ottmar Wahl et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, lines 4 l to 45,

the formula should a shown below ins ppear as tead of as in the patent:

Signed and sealed this 17th day of August l965.

cH -0-cH -cH -cN (SEAL) Altest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER I EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PLASTIC COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SUBSTANCE OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CELLULOSE ESTERS, POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, POLYCARBONATES OF BIS(HYDROXYPHENYL) ALKANES, AND POLYSTYRENES, WHICH CONTAINS AN AMOUNT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO PLASTICIZE THE SAID SUBSTANCE OF A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA 